A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of attending the MJ Unpacked conference in St. Louis as my first conference representing Ganjapreneur!
The thing that I love more about the industry than anything is the people. The vast majority of us in the industry, the “pure pot people” as I like to call them, have a deeply meaningful relationship with the plant. This is a great thing to have as a common starting point when meeting people, and MJ Unpacked was no exception. I was able to see some great friends there, and make new ones.
My approach to non-MJBizCon conferences has changed- I now “surf” the conference, going where the tumbleweeds (pot pun always intended) take me. I’ll line up some parties and maybe one meeting or two, but otherwise I just follow wherever things lead me. New conversations lead to new journeys to different get-togethers and meeting new people. Some conversations that really stood out to me amongst the conference were seeing good friends Whitney Conroy (of Phylos), Jesce Horton (of Lowd), David Cunic (of many fingers in many pot pies), Kim Rael (Azuca), Darren Blair (from STIIIZY), and George Jage himself (who has more stories than the Pentagon has secrets) about topics as varied as my licensing of technology in the industry, a brand networking group I am starting, heavy metals in vapes in the industry that have direct airpaths to lungs, Schedule III and Farm Bill possibilities.
I also managed to record a couple of podcast interviews with the one and only Corey Bix, the best and perhaps only opera singer who doubles in the industry.
The good times started on the flight to the show itself, when I noticed someone else on the plane wearing clothing with a cannabis leaf. I asked them if they were heading to MJ Unpacked and they were, and so–although we tried to link up at the airport to split a cab–instead, I had to wait for the pleasure of meeting Ohio’s Lenny Berry at the conference itself.
I also need to mention is that the venue was pretty unique. The show took place in the Union Station hotel, which was converted from a train station into a hotel at some point. The exhibition floor was in a grand terminal. The lobby of the building was in what appeared to previously be the central hub and meeting place. If that wasn’t unique enough, there would be periodically be shows projected onto the ceiling featuring different types of animation, including one where figures on the actual ceiling came alive. Needless to say, these shows were very popular with conference-goers like myself, who would “ooh” and “aah” (perhaps a little more enthusiastically than those that were not there for the conference partaking in the plant)!
MJ Unpacked also offered great programming representative of the marvelous complexity and diversity of the cannabis industry: offering a unique blend of business, cutting-edge science, and vital social justice efforts. While I wasn’t able to attend every session, I enjoyed panels relating to advancing women in cannabis, large and small cultivation considerations, and the innumerable health impacts of the endocannabinoid industry.
For some trivia about what the endocannabinoid system does: it is a cellular communication system that connects all other systems and relates to homeostasis. The endocannabinoid system is intricately related to hibernation in animals, such as bears. Furthermore, the endocannabinoid system is actually responsible for what people have believed to be the post-workout “runner’s high” that purportedly was the product of endorphins.
The women’s panel was both enlightening and infuriating, as the panelists underscored systemic issues that women in the industry face daily. Simply put, the few women in leadership positions—and women overall—have to endure a lot of unnecessary bullsh*t. To the men in cannabis: it’s time to step up. We need to actively organize and leverage male allies to help drive change, whether it’s supporting women in leadership, calling out sexist and discriminatory behavior, or improving minority representation in the industry.
To conclude, it was clear that the team at MJ Unpacked had everything expertly prepared in advance so that the conference ran incredibly smoothly while it was ongoing. It was like a train moving without seeing the wheels turning: pure momentum, which was especially exciting in the context of new opportunities opening up in Missouri. If you’ve never been to an MJ Unpacked, and especially if you are a brand, manufacturer or retailer, I highly recommend the conference and think that you should check out the next one in Atlantic City in 2025.
Happy holidays and a happy New Year to everyone!
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